Barbed Wire Snap-On Stabilizer and Method of Use

ABSTRACT

A stabilizer for barbed wire fences and its method of use are presented. The stabilizer is a single unitary piece of molded plastic having an aperture and a deflectable locking tab allowing for access to the aperture. Such apertures and deflectable locking tabs are uniformly spaced along the length of the stabilizer and are adapted to receive the spaced-apart barbed wire of a fencing system. The deflectable locking tab accommodates both ease of application and release of the stabilizer with respect to the barbed wire.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention herein resides in the art of fence stays or stabilizers, and particularly those adapted for use in association with barbed wire and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a barbed wire stabilizer of the type that can be simply snapped onto the vertically spaced-apart wires of a barbed wire fence to maintain a fixed spaced relationship between the wires as they extend between the supporting posts of the fence.

More specifically, the invention relates to a barbed wire stabilizer that is of a single-piece, molded plastic construction and in which the locking mechanism for securing the stabilizer upon the barbed wire is a series of integrally molded pieces uniformly spaced along the elongated stabilizer.

BACKGROUND ART

It is well known in the art of erecting and maintaining barbed wire fences and the like that economy is best achieved by minimizing the number of fence posts employed for actually receiving attachment of the barbed wire. However, as the spacing of fence posts increases, the instability of the wires strung between the fence posts also increases. Typically, the wires form a catenary curve, such as characterized by telephone and power lines between their poles. This lack of stabilization is most undesirable and, accordingly, fence stays or stabilizers have been incorporated to maintain the spacings between the wires and reduce the curvature of the wires between the fence posts.

Commonly known in the art are fence stays of the nature shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,572. A problem with the fence stays of this patent is the fact that the stays are of a two-piece construction, requiring both an elongated strip of material with a plurality of angled slots therein for receiving the wire, and a locking wire that is required for retaining the fencing wire within the slot after they have all been put in place. Stays of this nature are not only expensive, but also cumbersome in use, requiring the positioning of the slotted, elongated strip upon the plurality of wires, followed by the subsequent positioning and interlocking of a separate lock wire to maintain all in place. The locking wire not only requires careful insertion to maintain the fence wire within the slots, but also the subsequent bending of the lock wire to secure both ends to the elongated strip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is a need in the art for fence stays or stabilizers that are cost effective in manufacture and use, and are given to long life regardless of the environment in which they are used. Specifically, it is most desirable to have a fence stay or stabilizer that consists of a single piece that may simply be snapped onto the barbed wire at desired spaced-apart location and which automatically locks onto the wire when appropriately positioned, thereby eliminating the need for a separate locking element or installation step.

There is particularly a need in the art for a fence stay or stabilizer, particularly adapted for use with barbed wire fences, which is an integral one-piece unit of molded plastic material that is easy to secure in place and to remove when desired, and which automatically locks into place and securely retains the barbed wire during the positioning and application process, and which may simply be removed by deflecting a locking tab.

In light of the foregoing, it is a first aspect of the invention to provide a barbed wire fence stabilizer which is manufactured of molded plastic.

Another aspect of the invention is the provision of a barbed wire stabilizer in which a deflectable locking tab may be employed as an integral portion of the stabilizer for securedly maintaining the stabilizer upon the wires of a barbed wire fence in any of numerous desired spacings.

A further aspect of the invention is the provision of a barbed wire fence stabilizer that is of one, single, integral piece, which accommodates snapping over the barbed wires at desired locations to maintain their spacing.

Yet a further aspect of the invention is the provision of a barbed wire fence stabilizer that readily guides the barbed wire to a receiving aperture.

Still a further aspect of the invention is the provision of a barbed wire fence stabilizer that is easy to both apply to and remove from spaced-apart barbed wires and to reduce the catenary of such wires between the fence posts to which they are attached.

Yet a further aspect of the invention is the provision of a barbed wire fence stabilizer that is not given to corrosion or damage by the environment, but which is rather environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and easy to use.

The foregoing and other aspects of the invention that will become apparent as the detailed description proceeds are achieved by a barbed wire, snap-on stabilizer, comprising: an elongated member; and a series of wire locking receptacles along a length of said elongated member.

Other aspects of the invention that will become apparent herein are achieved by a method for establishing a barbed wire fence, comprising: erecting spaced-apart posts; interconnecting vertically spaced barbed wires to said spaced-apart posts; and snapping stabilizers onto said barbed wires to maintain a vertical spacing of said barbed wires by deflecting spaced-apart tabs on said stabilizers and urging said barbed wires beyond said tabs and into a circumferentially walled aperture, and releasing the deflected tab to close said circumferentially walled aperture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a complete understanding of the various aspects, structure and method of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a barbed wire fence employing the stabilizer of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a section of the stabilizer of the invention as contemplated for use by the fence of FIG. 1 ; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the stabilizer of FIG. 2 taken along the line 3-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly FIG. 1 , it can be seen that a fencing system made in accordance with the invention is designated generally by the numeral 10. The system 10 includes spaced-apart posts 12 that are positioned into or upon a base surface 14 such as the earth, asphalt, concrete, or the like. Strung between the posts 12 are wires 16, presently contemplated as any suitable wire such as single-strand, twisted strand, barbed, or the like. Presently, it is contemplated that the instant invention is most particularly adapted for employment with barbed wire fencing. The wires 16 are secured to the fence posts 12 as by nails, tacks, staples or the like. It is further contemplated that these wires may be secured by means of pipe posts and associated wire fence clips as shown in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 17/178,446, filed Feb. 18, 2021, for “Wire Fence Clip for Pipe Post.”

As shown in FIG. 1 , a stabilizer according to the invention receives the wires 16 to maintain those wires in spaced-apart, fixed, vertical relationship to each other and thereby stabilize the wires of the fence and reduce the catenary between the posts 12.

With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 3 , an appreciation can be obtained with regard to the structure, function, and utility of the stabilizers 18 of the invention. As shown, the stabilizer 18 is an elongated member having a back flange 20, first and second side flanges 22, 24, and a front locking flange 26. The flanges are preferably orthogonal to each other, as apparent from FIG. 3 . This orthogonal nature provides strength and rigidity to the stabilizer, resisting deflection of the stabilizer as a whole in any direction. Further strengthening the stabilizer 18 is a central elongated rib 38 interposed among side flanges 22, 24 and front locking flange 26.

A locking lip 28 extends about an outer edge of the locking flange 26. The locking lip 28 comprises a series of uniformly spaced-apart locking wire receptacles consisting of the elements 30-36 discussed directly below.

Guide surfaces 30, of an arcuate or curvate nature, appear in scalloped fashion along the outer edge of the locking lip 28. A deflection tab 32 extends from an end of the guide surface 30 back toward an interior of the stabilizer 18. The deflection tab 32 allows access to an aperture 34, the aperture 34 being defined by an enclosing wall 36 and the deflection tab 32. Accordingly, the aperture 34 is substantially circumferentially sealed by the deflection tab 32 and enclosing wall 36, while the deflection tab 32 may be manually deflected inwardly of the aperture 34 to allow for the passage of a barbed wire strand into the aperture.

It will be appreciated that the locking lips 28, just described, are uniformly spaced along the length of the stabilizer 18. This spacing is such as to accommodate the effective positioning of the stabilizer 18 on the wires 16 of the fencing system 10.

The stabilizer 18 is molded of plastic as an integral, unitary piece. The mold is such that when the piece is withdrawn from the mold, the ends of the tabs 32, though tapered, actually interconnect with an inner end of the associated guide surface 30 and are severed therefrom by razor cutting or the like. Accordingly, the tabs 32, of molded plastic, may be manually deflected by the barbed wire to insert the barbed wire into the aperture 34, or the tab 32 may be deflected manually to remove the barbed wire from that aperture. The arcuate nature of the guide surfaces 30 particularly facilitates the insertion of the barbed wire into the aperture 34 by deflecting the tab 32. Once in place, the memory of the plastic deflection tab 32 causes it to return to its closed position, completing the enclosing wall 36 of the aperture 34 for securely retaining the barbed wire therein.

In use, the wires 16 are secured to the posts 12 in a desired spaced-apart relationship and the stabilizers 18 are then attached to the wires in a very simple manner. The barbed wire 16 is placed upon the arcuate or curvilinear guide surface 30 and moved therealong to engagement with the deflection tab 32. The wire is then urged against the deflection tab 32, causing it to deflect and allowing access into the aperture 34. Upon passing into the aperture 34, the deflection tab 32 recovers to its normally closed position, having a bias to do so, and the process is repeated on the subsequent wires. Effectively, the stabilizer 18 is snapped onto the wires.

The aperture 34 is sized to readily receive the wire portion of the barbed wire, but small enough to prohibit passage of the barbs of barbed wire therethrough. Accordingly, the stabilizer 18 is laterally or horizontally confined between the two barbs spaced horizontally closest to each other, one on each side of the stabilizer 18 when mounted upon the plurality of spaced apart barbed wires 16.

If it is desired to remove the stabilizer 18, the deflection tabs 32 may then be manually deflected inwardly with an appropriate tool such as a bladed screwdriver or the like providing an opening by which the barbed wire may pass from the aperture 34. The implementation of a locking tab that is deflectable accommodates the ease of operation of a one-piece, unitary and integral barbed wire stabilizer.

It has been found that the stabilizer 18 may be employed bi-directionally. When oriented in use as shown in FIG. 2 , the barbed wire passing through the aperture 34 engages the top of the enclosing wall 36. If the stabilizer 18 is vertically reoriented 180°, the wire passing through the aperture 34 engages the tab 32, urging it in its closed orientation against the inner end of the arcuate guide surface 30. In either orientation, the barbed wire is contained within the aperture 34 bounded by the wall 36 and tab 32.

Thus it can be seen that the various aspects of the invention have been achieved by the barbed wire, snap-on stabilizer and its method of use shown and described herein. While in accordance with the patent statutes only the best known and preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented and described in detail, the invention is not limited thereto or thereby. Accordingly, for an appreciation of the true scope and breadth of the invention reference should be made to the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A barbed wire snap-on stabilizer, comprising: an elongated member; and a series of wire locking receptacles along a length of said elongated member.
 2. The barbed wire snap-on stabilizer according to claim 1, wherein said wire locking receptacles comprise a locking tab forming a portion of a wall of an aperture, said locking tab and said wall encompassing said aperture.
 3. The barbed wire snap-on stabilizer according to claim 1, wherein said locking tab is deflectable into said aperture for accommodating passage of barbed wire into said aperture.
 4. The barbed wire snap-on stabilizer according to claim 2, wherein said locking tab is biased into forming said portion of said wall of said aperture.
 5. The barbed wire snap-on stabilizer according to claim 4, wherein said wire locking receptacles further comprise a guide surface in juxtaposition to an associated tab, a separation from said guide surface to said tab closing toward a deflectable end of said tab.
 6. The barbed wire snap-on stabilizer according to claim 5, wherein said guide surface is curvate.
 7. The barbed wire snap-on stabilizer according to claim 6, wherein said barbed wire snap-on stabilizer comprises an integral single piece of molded plastic.
 8. The barbed wire snap-on stabilizer according to claim 7, wherein said elongated member comprises four orthogonally connected elongated flanges, consisting of a rear flange, first and second side flanges, and a front locking flange, said front locking flange containing said series of wire locking receptacles therealong.
 9. The barbed wire snap-on stabilizer according to claim 8, wherein said wire locking receptacles are uniformly spaced along at least a portion of said front locking flange.
 10. A method for establishing a barbed wire fence, comprising: erecting spaced-apart posts; interconnecting vertically spaced barbed wires to said spaced-apart posts; and snapping stabilizers onto said barbed wires to maintain a vertical spacing of said barbed wires by deflecting spaced-apart tabs on said stabilizers and urging said barbed wires beyond said tabs and into a circumferentially walled aperture, and releasing the deflectable tab to close said circumferentially walled aperture.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said barbed wires are introduced to said tabs along a curvate guide surface.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of snapping stabilizers onto said barbed wires confines lateral movement upon said barbed wires as between the barbs of a closest horizontally spaced pair of barbs, one barb on each side of an associated stabilizer. 